Simon

It's a "yes, but" situation.
 
First, American capitalism, and capitalism in general, was to a very great degree based on racist phenomena. (I'll talk about racist ideology in a moment.)
 
The first thing is that it is built on an Indian Burial Ground, in the most literal sense. Without the dispossession of the indigenous populations, the US wouldn't exist.

Second, it was built, economically, on a base of slavery and indentured labour: the first group obviously being mostly drawn from Africa, the latter from various sources, including Europe. Over time, of course, its economy has shifted to being based on waged, notionally free, labour. I say "notionally free", because those who participate in it largely have no other choice except to starve. Yes, there are and always have been small farmers and other small businesses, but the big money doesn't come from them.
 
So historically separating American capital from racism is impossible.
 
On to ideology. Obviously, when you have social segregation, you have a powerful tool of social control. Those at the top of the (in this case) racial heap can often be convinced to side with a society's rulers against those they see as inferior. Some times that can break down, and it's clear that a degree of this breakdown is in play at the moment. It's also never universal - there have always been white anti-racists, for example - but usually a majority have gone along with what they have been told.
 
And here we run into the intersection of social inequality and racism. Essentially, the latter is a powerful instrument in distracting attention from the former, and justifying it.

Badger is perfectly correct to point out the plight of poor whites. The problem is that racism sets them against poor black people, Latinos and whoever. While it is impossible to unite across such divisions, none of them can address the fundamental issue.
 
So action against racism is necessary in order to deal with economic inequality.

I'll add, too, that even addressing the latter doesn't mean that racism will go away. It would have to be consciously fought even in an economically ideal situation, where the social and economic roots of racism have been dealt with.

Similar arguments apply about sexism, homophobia and the whole laundry list of other negative phenomena.

OK, I think that's my main argument done with. I may not have always used the latest Academically Correct terms, but it's a pretty standard, deeply unoriginal, position.

Sounds like the characters you are viewing have the HDC file linked - your browser is rendering it rather than saving the file...so just right-click on the link and select "Save As..." or the equivalent.

Yup...though I would strongly recommend updating in that case (even if you still have it to make the transfer) -- you'll find a LOT more functionality in the current version.

Also note: if you still have the HD installation from your windows system, it will run just fine under MacOS as well -- the joys of Java.

No, since prior to 2013 (when we moved the site to new software and changed the sales model for HD), HD was sold under a 2 year support contract.  You would have needed to renew your support contract in order to download updates/new versions/etc.  We did continue to honor existing support contracts after the move, but those all ran out by 2015.

The good news is that the cost to purchase HD was (intentionally) kept the same as the cost to renew your support contract ($25)...so you're not out anything.

Best wishes for a problem-free surgery and easy recovery (or as easy as can be hoped)

You'll want to review the rules regarding how Advantages and Limitations work...as well as general math.  30/(1-.5) = 30/.5 = 60...and doesn't really have anything to do with HERO System.

A 30 Active Point Power with -1/2 in total Limitations would calculate as:  30 / (1+1/2) = 30 / (3/2) = 60/3 = 20 points

A 30 Active Point Power with +1/2 in Advantages would calculate as: 30 * (1+1/2) = 30 * (3/2) = 90/2 = 45 points

Apply a -1/2 Limitation to the Advantaged Power above and the calculation follows the same rules: 45 /(1+1/2) = 30 points

Best wishes for a problem-free surgery and easy recovery (or as easy as can be hoped)

I have my own opinions on the subject, but out of respect for Simon's admonitions I will, for once, keep them to myself.

Sadly, not much good to update:  she's been moved to hospice.

Sadly, not much good to update:  she's been moved to hospice.

Sadly, not much good to update:  she's been moved to hospice.

Sadly, not much good to update:  she's been moved to hospice.

Sadly, not much good to update:  she's been moved to hospice.

Sadly, not much good to update:  she's been moved to hospice.

I wish you the best, Dan.  You are a good person, and I hope things turn out well as they can be.  Us all, we'll be here.

Also, just to point out again, we haven't reached the first peak yet, so it's a bit early to be talking about what the second peak may look like.

Agreed - 100%...though I will add that those who haven't had it become personal can still be emotionally affected and aware of the scope of the tragedy that's continuing to unfold. I was in that group and am now in the "close to home" group and can somewhat confidently say that they're not too different, just more personal now.  My aunt (this shouldn't matter, but early 70's, special needs, had been living in an assisted care facility) was recently moved to the ICU showing all the (bad) signs of COVID-19. 

This isn't meant to take away from your post -- the majority fall into the category that you describe (not really "getting" it until it hits close to home)...which I find more than a little sad, and more than a little telling of why we're seeing the issues we are in the US.

Agreed - 100%...though I will add that those who haven't had it become personal can still be emotionally affected and aware of the scope of the tragedy that's continuing to unfold. I was in that group and am now in the "close to home" group and can somewhat confidently say that they're not too different, just more personal now.  My aunt (this shouldn't matter, but early 70's, special needs, had been living in an assisted care facility) was recently moved to the ICU showing all the (bad) signs of COVID-19. 

This isn't meant to take away from your post -- the majority fall into the category that you describe (not really "getting" it until it hits close to home)...which I find more than a little sad, and more than a little telling of why we're seeing the issues we are in the US.

Yeah.

I dislike the logic of "it could have been worse."  

"Could it have been better?" is a more appropriate question to ask...and when the answer to that is "yes," you're talking about deaths that could have been prevented.

Yeah.

I dislike the logic of "it could have been worse."  

"Could it have been better?" is a more appropriate question to ask...and when the answer to that is "yes," you're talking about deaths that could have been prevented.

With 100k dead (and not seeing the peak yet), I'm curious what you would consider "too much destruction"...

With 100k dead (and not seeing the peak yet), I'm curious what you would consider "too much destruction"...

With 100k dead (and not seeing the peak yet), I'm curious what you would consider "too much destruction"...